Nicotine and Cotinine Levels in Body Fluids of Smokers who Committed Suicide

This study tested the hypothesis that suicide smokers would show higher nicotine & cotinine levels in blood & urine than non-suicide smokers. Nicotine & cotinine levels in 87 deceased Japanese individuals (18 suicide victims & 69 non-suicides) were determined by gas chromatography. The smoking rate was 77.8% for those who died by suicide & 42.4% for those who did not die by suicide. Average nicotine & cotinine levels in blood were significantly higher in the suicide smokers than in the non-suicide smokers. Average levels of urinary nicotine & cotinine were also significantly higher in the suicide smokers than in the non-suicide smokers. Results suggest cigarette smokers who die by suicide smoke more heavily than other cigarette smokers. (16 refs.) JA